It was noted that the Speaker was very subdued in yesterday’s PMQs, but he seems to have more than made up for it today. Deputy Chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee lost his rag with the Bercow after a fall out regarding a loo break earlier. Paul Waugh got the details:

“To register his anger at not being allowed to ask a question, Pritchard immediately wrote a letter of complaint, explaining why the Speaker was wrong (including the toilet break). He went to the Speaker’s office to submit the letter. But, several minutes later, on walking back along the corridor behind the Speaker’s chair, the Tory MP then encountered Mr Bercow walking towards him with his usual formal entourage. The Speaker then stopped and pointed at Pritchard and said: “The courtesy of the House is that Honourable Members should stand aside when the Speaker passes by”. Pritchard was so outraged at this further slight that he replied: “Mr Speaker, don’t point at me. I am not here to be abused by you.” Bercow countered: “You will obey the courtesies of the House!” To which Pritchard replied with the immortal line: “You are not fucking royalty, Mr Speaker!””

This is just the latest spilling over of underlying tensions within the Tory benches and high command. First it was Nadine, then Simon Burns, the Tory Chief whip, and now Pritchard. These outbursts are becoming a regular occurrence. Anyone would think the Tories didn’t exactly see eye to eye with their Speaker…

UPDATE: Guido knew this would come in useful one day. Seems that it’s not just Bercow who enjoys his elevated position:

Pritchard apparently gets very upset when people don’t obey the sign in the car park of his constituency office.